Azaña, Manuel (1880–1940): Intellectual, writer and main republican leader in the 1930s, Minister of War, Prime Minister (1931–33 and February–April 1936) and President of the Republic from May 1933. Crossed into France when the defeat of the Republic was imminent; resigned and died in Montauban in November 1940.

Franco, Francisco (1892–1975): An army general, he plotted and rose against the Republic and on 1 October 1936, his brother officers designated him head of the three branches of the armed forces, Generalísimo, and principal leader of Nationalist Spain against the Republic. He won the war and became dictator of Spain until his death on 20 November 1975.

Gil Robles, José María (1898–1980): Lawyer, Catholic politician and founder of the CEDA. An advocate of a corporative and authoritarian State, he was the Republic's Minister of War in 1935; he supported the military coup of 1936 and, once the war had started, Franco's cause, although from Portugal and without taking active part in the war.

Largo Caballero, Francisco (1869–1946): Principal leader of the Partido Socialista Obrero Español and its trade union organisation UGT, he was Minister of Labour (1931–1933) and wartime President of the Republic between September 1936 and May 1937.

Lerroux, Alejandro (1864–1949): Republican leader, he was part of the republican–socialist coalition which took power in April 1931, but broke with this coalition in December of that year, and was Prime Minister during 1934 and 1935, together with the non-republican rightist party CEDA. He took no part in the civil war.